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Welcome To
The World Of Solvents
Furthermore, the solvents industry is highly
committed to the principles of product
stewardship and the health and safety of
downstream users.
Solvents dissolve other substances. Sugar
dissolves in coffee because water is a solvent. Water is easily available and simple to
handle, so why are there so many industrially important solvents?
The easy answer is that not everything
dissolves in water. However, the choice of
solvent is based not only on whether something dissolves or not (solvency), but also
on evaporation rate, boiling point, viscosity,
surface tension and many other factors
that affect the thousands of industrial
processes that need solvents.
With so many properties to consider and
different materials to be dissolved, we can
see that we need access to a wide range of
solvents.
In many manufacturing processes the
demands are complex because the properties required may change as the process
is carried out. For example, to achieve a
surface with a good gloss finish, it may
be necessary initially for the solvent to
evaporate quickly but at a later stage
The chemical classification of solvents is based
on their chemical structure. Hydrocarbon
solvents are molecules containing only hydrogen and carbon atoms. Oxygenated solvents
contain hydrogen, carbon and oxygen atoms 1.
Most solvents are manufactured from petroleum (oil). The manufacturing process is highly
integrated into the operation of an oil refinery
or in a petrochemical manufacturing site. Up to
10% of solvents are manufactured using other
raw materials (natural gas, coal or biomass).
Most hydrocarbon solvents are separated in
the refinery by distillation and then further
treated and purified. Some are synthesised
from olefins. Hydrocarbon solvents are classified into three sub-groups based on the type of
“carbon skeleton” of their molecules, giving us
the aliphatic, aromatic and paraffinic solvents
families.
Oxygenated solvents are produced through
chemical reactions from olefins (derived from
oil or natural gas), giving us the following
sub-groups: alcohols, ketones, esters, ethers,
glycol ethers and glycol ether esters.
This leaflet gives only a few examples of how
solvents can be used to benefit consumers; in
reality, there are thousands of other applications.
1 The group of chlorinated solvents manufactured by reacting hydrocarbons with chlorine are not discussed in this document. For information
on chlorinated solvents, contact the European Chlorinated Solvents Association at www.eurochlor.org or the Halogenated Solvents Industry
Alliance (HSIA) at www.hsia.org.
Ketones such as acetone,
MEK (Methyl ethyl ketone) and MIBK (Methyl
isobutyl ketone) are used
in carbon fibre composites to make skis.
The carbon fibres are
layered with epoxy resins and the ketone’s high
solvency power softens
the resin to apply it easily and evenly between
the layers. The solvent’s
low boiling point allows
it to evaporate quickly
to enable the layers to
bind easily and form a
strong, durable product.
2. Family: Alcohols
Isopropyl alcohol is used as a windscreen
de-icing and cleaning solvent because it stays
in liquid form well below freezing point and
therefore helps to remove the ice. It removes
stains that appear on the windscreen and
is also used in the home in window cleaning
products.
4. Family: Esters
6. Family: Glycol ethers
Glycol ethers are highly
effective as an active component of heavy-duty
glass, floor and other hard
surface cleaning formulations. These solvents have
good water compatibility,
high solvency for greases
and oils and good biodegradability.
Ethyl acetate is used in nail polish and is especially
valued for its fruity odour and fast-drying properties.
It is also used in nail polish removal fluids and its high
solvency power means that the polish can be removed
easily from the nail.
5. Family: Esters
Butyl acetate is used to purify penicillin by keeping
impurities in solution whilst the penicillin is selectively removed from the reaction mixture by extraction.
Further purification of the penicillin is achieved
through the method of crystallization.
8. Family: Aliphatic hydrocarbons
Aliphatic hydrocarbons (typically dearomatised hydrocarbons) are used in the preservation of timber. The high water
resistance and low surface tension of the solvent enables it
to penetrate the wood.
10. Family: Aliphatic
hydrocarbons
High boiling point hydrocarbon solvents are used in
the aluminium rolling process to make aluminium
foil. Acting as a lubricant,
the solvent protects the
metal from oxidation,
helps eliminate metal
dusts/chips and dissipates
the heat from the process.
Solvents: Simply Essential
12. Family: Paraffins
Pentanes are used to make plastic foams for insulation purposes
in household goods such as refrigerators
and freezers. The low boiling point
of pentanes is the important
property. Pentane is mixed
into liquid plastic, which is
then heated with steam; the
pentane vapourises inside
the plastic and expands to
form a honeycomb-like
plastic foam. The low thermal conductivity of the
foam helps it to act as a
highly effective insulator.
7. Family: Glycol ether esters
Glycol ether esters are added to spray paints to prevent
them from drying before they hit their target. The slow
evaporation of this powerful group of solvents means that
cars, for example, can be re-painted effectively.
9. Family: Aliphatic hydrocarbons
Commercial hexanes are
used to extract natural
oil from seeds due
to its optimum
solvency power
(like
dissolves
like). Hexane is
a light solvent
that is easily removed from the
edible oil and is
also recycled during
the process.
14. Family: Aliphatic hydrocarbons
Dearomatised aliphatic hydrocarbons with specific boiling point ranges are used in the
production of tyres. The solvent softens and
cleans each rubber layer before the next one
is applied and its adhesive qualities help to
bind together the various components of
the tyre for increased safety and improved
performance.
15. Family: Aliphatic hydrocarbons
Low volatility dearomatised aliphatic hydrocarbons are used in the oilfield as base
fluids in drilling mud formulations
for lubricating the drilling process
in oil wells. The solvents have excellent lubricating properties, are
inert towards most type of rock
formations, and have low toxicity
and high biodegradability.
16. Family: Aliphatic hydrocarbons
11. Family: Aromatic hydrocarbons
Toluene is used as the ink solvent in a specialised type of
magazine printing, “publication rotogravure”, because it
evaporates quickly enough to prevent smudging and is easily
recycled. The process of rotogravure is capable of producing
printed material of the highest quality.
13. Family: Paraffins
Isoparaffins are used to dry-clean clothes. These solvents
are valued for their low odour, favourable health and environmental profile, safe handling characteristics and excellent
cleaning efficiency.
Aliphatic hydrocarbons are used to extract metals such as
copper, nickel, cobalt and zinc from ore.
They provide excellent solubility and
allow a rapid reaction of the metal
to remove it from the ore, then a
quick separation of the solventmetal mix.
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Solvents: Simply Essential
Hydrocarbon solvents
Ethanol is used by perfume manufacturers
as their solvent of
choice because of
its low odour. The
low boiling point
of ethanol
means
that the
solvent
evaporates
quickly and does
not remain on the skin.
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3. Family: Ketones
Oxygenated solvents
The Oxygenated and Hydrocarbon
Solvents Family Tree
1. Family: Alcohols
Solvents: Simply Essential
Hydrocarbon solvents
THE SOLVENTS FAMILY
For many products to perform effectively,
solvents are simply essential. Everyday, we
benefit from the diverse range of available
solvents and their unique properties.
evaporate much slower. This and many other
tailored performances can be achieved by
blending together different solvents from the
solvents family tree.
Solvents: Simply Essential
Oxygenated solvents
Why so many solvents?
Introduction
Solvents: Simply Essential
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“The Solvents Family” is a result of cooperation between the
European Solvents Industry Group (ESIG) and the American
Chemistry Council (ACC) through its Solvents Industry Group.
For further information on solvents in Europe,
please visit www.esig.org
or contact:
Dorothee Arns
ESIG Secretary General
European Solvents Industry Group
Cefic,
Avenue E. van Nieuwenhuyse 4, bte 2,
B-1160 Brussels
Phone: +32 (0)2 676 73 74
Fax: +32 (0)2 676 72 16
Email: dar@cefic.be
ALCOHOLS
ESTERS
KETONES
GLYCOL ETHERS
GLYCOL ETHER ESTERS
AROMATICS
ALIPHATICS
PARAFFINIC
Isopropanol
Butanol
Ethanol
Ethyl acetate
Isopropyl acetate
Butyl acetate
Acetone
MEK (Methyl ethyl ketone)
MIBK (Methyl isobutyl ketone)
Methoxy propanol
Butyl glycol
Methoxy propyl acetate
Butyl glycol acetate
Toluene
Xylene
C9-C10 aromatic
White spirit
Dearomatised hydrocarbons
Light fractions (e.g. Hexane)
n-Paraffins
Isoparaffins
ETHERS
Diethyl ether
For further information on solvents in America,
please visit www.americanchemistry.com/solvents
or contact:
Solvents Industry Group Panel Manager
American Chemistry Council
1300 Wilson Blvd.
Arlington, VA 22209
Tel: +1 703-741-5000
Propylene oxide
Ethylene
Propylene
Acetic acid
Propylene /Butene
Ethylene oxide
Oxygenated
solvents
Hydrocarbon
solvents
Ethylene
Hydrocarbon fractions
Naphtha
Natural gas
Crude oil
Raw materials
Synthesis
Extraction